MAEBASHI, GUNMA PREF. – Former baseball star Kazuhiro Kiyohara, who was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of possessing stimulant drugs, came to know his drug dealer at least three years ago, investigative sources alleged.

According to the sources, Kiyohara was introduced to Kobayashi three years ago through a male acquaintance in his 40s. Since then, Kiyohara allegedly visited Kobayashi’s home in Midori, Gunma Prefecture, several times. On one occasion, Kiyohara gave him an autographed baseball bat, the sources said.

Since his arrest Feb. 2, Kiyohara had remained mum on who he bought the stimulant from, probably for fear of the seller’s links to yakuza, investigators said earlier.